Combination ignition and lighting switch.



W. KAISLING.

COMBINATION IGNITION AND LIGHTING SWITCH.`

y I yAPPLICATION "FILED MAY 6,1914. 1,294,342.

l mow H W31 VMN W. KAISLING. COMBINATION IGNITION ANO LIGHTING swITGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. T914. y

Patented Feb; 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. KAISLING.

COMBINATION IGNITION ANO LIGHTING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5.1914- Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

11,291,342. a i I To all whom 'it may concern .1

Be itknown that I, WiLL'IAM KAIsLING, a

"citizen of the United States of America,

- residing at Chicago, in the county ofl Cook and State of Illinois, have; invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combinationv Ignition and Lighting Switches, of

ywhich the following is a specification.

Esis

tion and lighting switches,

'o f this character ,having interlocking tures, to control thevariousoperations.

generatoris utilized at times My invention relates to combination igniand has foiits object the provision of an improved swtch ea- The switch in the form herein shown is designed lto effectr control ofthe lighting system of `an automobile and is designed at the same vice is so yarranged thatthe ignition circuit can be connected to but oneof the batteries at a time. My improved :switch also has devices Vwhereby the various lighting circuits of the automobile may be served from vthe storage battery and independently controlled, and also has provision for dimming certain of the lights of thef automobile.A

My improved switching device further has interlocking features whereby whenever the switch is locked so that neitherignition c ircuit can be closed, the lamp circuit controlling devices are also locked to prevent tampei-ing. Interlocking features are provided between the two devices controlling the ,ig-

vnition circuit.

' 4' My improved switching device'also has an lalarm mechanism so arranged as t0 give a'n indication should therebe an unusual drain of current froml the storage battery which may be caused b v a ground possibly of somefpart of the lighting circuit.

I will explain this particular form aforesaid of my invention more particularly in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the same, and this partielllar'manner of its use.

Specification of Letters Patent.

WILLIAM KAISLING, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNR'TO KELLOGG SWITCHBOARD &

SUPPLY COMPANY; 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIPORATION'OIE ILLINOIS.- 1

COMBINTIONIGNITION AND LIGHTING SWITCH.4 .Q

' Patented Feb.*11,=1919.

i Appiiation ined may s, 1914. seriaindssasoa..

Figure 1 is a side view of my imlvirovedv combination switch; Fig. 2 is a top view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the -interlocking devices; f

Fig. 4 is an end view of my improved device as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line a-.a of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 isa ifragmentarysectionalview on 'line b of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side 'view of the' device looking at it in the oppositedirection to thatl of Fig. 1, portions beingbroken away to more clearly reveal features of construction;

Fig. 8 is a bot-tom .view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is apartial sideview loolringat Fig. 9 is a sectional view on -line o o-of the same sideas Fig. 7, certain parts being removedand portions being broken away to more clearly reveal structural details;

Fig. l2 is a partial sectionalview on line Z-cl of Fig. 7;

Fig. 13 is a diagrainmaticfview illustrating the circuit arrangements, and Figs. V14 and 1 5 are modified forms ofresistance., i i

I will explain first of. all the diagrammatic circuit arrangement of Fig-13 as-the understanding of the operation of the device will probably be more intelligible after one form of its use as herein illustrated is understood. i

Referring thus more particularly toFig. 13. l show a plurality of plungers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respcctvcly. Iy also show a pairof automobile liczul lights 6. through tliiliead lights (3, Gextends from the ground at 7 to the lamps in parallel, conductor 8,'tlirougli various switchingdevices as will presently appear, conductor 9. relay 10, storage battery 11, to ground at.12. The lamps G, 6 as will tlius be seen receive their current from the ystorage battery. The plunger 4 hasa conducting element 13 and when this plunger is elevated itcloses cone tact between springs 14 and 15,-thereby clos;-

ing the circuit between. conductors 8 and 9.

The circuit NO W Awhenever -the plunger is 'in the position of Fig. 13, and the plunger 5 elevated, then the conducting element 16 of the plunger 5 closes circuit through springs 17 and 18,'thereby establishing a conducting circuit between the conductors 8 and 9 through a dimming resistance 19 however, as illustrated. The plunger 3 by controlling the circuit through the springs 20 and 21 closes the circuit from the battery 11 and conductor 9 to the conductor 22, through the tail light 23, the Cow] light 24, to ground at 25. The relay 10 has an armature 26*El and a back contact 27a. This relay is so arranged that whenever merely the normal current is supplied to the lamps, this relay remains unoperated. When the current exceeds the amount thus required however then its 'armature is attracted to be immediately released Aupon breaking of the circuit how ever, 'thusl causing this relay armature to chatter, thereby conveying an indication to the operator of the car that there is a ground or other fault on the lamp circuit which needs attention. The plunger 1 controls chir-v `cuit through springs 26 and 27 to establlsh through the intermediation of springs 33 and A34 establishesa circuit from the ground 12,

through the storage battery 11, conductor 62, conductor 35, springs 34 and 33, conductor 36, conductor 30, to the primary winding 31, from Where, as before, this circuit can be completed momentarily by the rotating star wheel 37, through the spring 38, contact 39, to ground at 40..' A condenser 41 accommodates for the spark at the contacts. The secondary winding 42 may then be connected in the usual way through a distributer 43 to the various spark plugs 44. The plunger l when operated to its alternative position also closes a circuit through the springs 45 and 46, through the agency of an insulatingly carried contact 47 mounted upon an arm 48.

In a similar way plunger 2 through the agency of the contact 49 carried by the arm 50 may close circuit through springs 51 and 52. The springs 45 and 52 are connected together as shown and springs 46 and 51` are connected together as shown, conductor 53 leading away from the first set of springs, and yconductor 54 being connectedito the second set of springs. Thus whenever either 'one'ofv the plungers 1 or 2 is actuated circuit is established from conductor 53, to condur'ztor 54, through the brush `55, vgen-erator armature 56 of the motor generator 57, brush' 58, contact 59'switch arm 60, to ground at61, to ground at 12, storage battery 11, conductor 62, to conductor 53. Under these conditions the generator bein now driven by the engine of the automobile, which although not shown, is connected to the shaft 63, charges the storage battery 11. The field coil 64 of the generator has its circuit completed through a resistance 65, which resistance is controlled yby an arm 66 suitably operatedby a govground at 61, brush 68, motor portion 67,l

resistance 69, conductor 62, storage battery 11 to ground at 12, thus driving the motor.

to start the engine, the generator circuit at the same time being open.

As soon as the engine is started the brush 68 may be released and the generator portion may again charge the storage battery. The various operations thus required Will be apparent.

Now in a system of this character it isn imperative that suitable interlocking features be provided. For instance, it is absolutely necessary that no more than one-of the plungers 1 or 2 be in circuit closing position at the same time. It is further imperative that locking means be provided so as to prevent the operation of either of the, plungers 1 and 2 whenever the owner leaves the car, and it is likewise necessary that when. the car is thus left that the locking Aelements which lock the plungers 1 or 2 in their inoperative position also lock whichever plunger 3, 4, or 5 is in its operative position so as of the lights of the ca'r. The reason for this is that ordinances usually require the `burning of certain lights when a car is standing idle on the streets after dusk, and it isA nec-` essary that the lighting circuit established` by the owner of the car when it is left be not rendered inoperative. '4 I My improved combination switch which carries all of the interlocking features, the locking features, the dimming resistance, and the relay is set forth in Figs. l to 12 inclusive, and has all of this apparatus mounted on a suitable plate 70 whose front portion is covered by a suitable face plate 71. The plate 70 through;

the 'agency of distance pieces 72 and 73 carrles a metallic strip 74 thus to provide ya structure carrying all of the plunger mechamsm. The relay l0 through the agency of the L-shaped keeper 75 is mounted upon the to prevent tampering with anyv plungers together with the.

' plate 70'as shown, which keeper also carries the armature 26a. Back contact 27l coperates with the contact 76 carried .by the spring 77 insulatingly mounted on the keeper 75 and is controlled by an arm 78 mounted upon the armature 26a and movable therewith. An insulating button 7 9`is interposed between the arm 78 and the spring 77. Retractile springs 80 are secured to extending fingers 81 of the bent part78 and also 'to pins 82 secured to .the heel piece 75. The contact 27*l is fastened to a conducting plate 83 which. 'is insulatnigly mounted upon the strip 84, which conducting plate 83through theV agency of the conductor 85 is connected to one terminal of the electromagnet 10. The contact'fa of course has no electrical connection with the heel piece' 75 passing through an opening therein considerably larger than this contact piece 27. The other terminal of the electromagnet is connected by means of the conductor 86 with a conducting strip 87,.which conducting strip 87 is electrically connected with the spring 34, a suitable-cap plate 88 carrying a binding post 89, being also 'connected therewith. These parts 34, 87, v'and 88 are insulatingly mountedupon the strip 74. On the opposite side of the spring 34 the spring 33 -is also insulatingly mounted f and is provided with a binding post 90. The

springs 26 and 27 are also insulatingly mounted on opposite sides of the strip 74, spring 26 being connected by means of'the conducting strip 29 with the spring 3 3. Spring 34 is connected by means of a conducting plate 91 with the springs 46 and 51,

. which springs 46 and 51' together with the vplate 91 are insulatingly mounted upon the rod 74, the lower extremity of the springs v46 and 51 being preferably connected together as shown at `92. Spring27 is also insulatingly mounted upon the rod 74 and is connected by 'means of the conducting strip 93 with the4 binding post 94, the binding post 94 being insulated from the springs 46 and .51. The contact spring 77 is connected by meansl of theconductingstrip 9 with the contact spring 20, these parts being also insulatingly lmounted and this spring 20 is connected by means of the conducting strip 95 with the spring 14, the

spring 14 being insulatingly mounted and being connected to the binding post 96. The binding post 96 also carries a nut 97 whereto one extremity-of the double spring 19 is at' tached. This double spring 19 represents the two halves of the resistance wire, being wound in two coils about the insulating bushing 98 as more clearly shown in Figgl, a cross-piece 99 forming part of the resistance connecting the two-halves together as shown. Theother terminal of this'l resistance 19 is connected tov the post 100 sur"-4 mounted .by'the 'nut 101; This 'postand yscrews as shown. Y h electrically connected together by the strip hence the last aforesaid terminal of the resistance 'is electrically-connected with the spring 17, these parts except when stated as being connected together electrically, being insulatingly mounted on'the rod '74. The construction and arrangement ofl these partsI in connection with the rod 74 is shown more clearly in Fig. 6 where' through an aperture in this bar thespindle 102 of the plunger 5 projects. parts together, suitable' insulating strlpsl being provided as shownl to' insulate the various parts of the conducting plate from the vSprings l15 and 18 are Insulated screws 103 lhold all the 104, spring 21 having av binding post V105,A

and spring 15 having the'binding post 106.

It will thus be seen that the plungers by reason oftheir lconducting segments such as v16 may establish a circuit betweenI the springs with which theyare associated or break this circuit onaccount of the'insulating cy-linders such as 107 surmounting the conducting strips. The plungers` 1 and 2 as stated carry the insulatingly vmounted strips 48 .and 50 respectivelyI which when moving from one position to their alternative position either -v close lthe, circuit through the springs associated therewith or break the circuit, the 'relative parts'. of thedevices bevfing more clearlyl shown in Fig. 11 where by the screws 112. The slidingplatelllv ist" mounted clearly as shown in Figs. 8 and 11, and also has sloping extremities to interlock extremities of the plungers 1 fand 2.'

lIt will thus be seen that but one plunger withvth'e flaringportio'ns 110 at the lower v can be elevatedat Iatime because, for. in-

stance, if plunger 1 is elevated as shown' in Fig. 11, the sliding plate 111 is moved tothe right and vlocks the plunger 2 against upf ward movement. Plunger 1 must therefore first be depressed beforeplunger 2 can be raised, at which time plunger 1 will be locked against movement. It will thus be seen that current can be' taken from but one,

of the sets of batteries shov'vnvin Fig. 13. Thesprings' 45, 46, 51and52 rest normally against insulating strips 113,` which insulating strips however'do not interfere with the iis movement of the plates 48 and 50fasl these i plates are notched at 114 as more clearly shown in' Fi'gs. 9 and 1'1. lIn order to flock the plungers 1 and 2 against any movement thus'to retain tliem' both Qin their inoperative position whenever the owner leaves the car,

I 'provide the' key] 115" carrying'the pinionl "ias 116 and having a hollow rounded interior as shown at 117. This key is adapted to fit over the stem 118 xedly mounted in a bracket 119 carried by the strut 72. The plate 70 has an opening-120 of the size exactly to accommodate the gear wheel 116 so that only this particular key 115 can be inserted through the opening 120. When the` key is inserted however to a position lower than that of the teeth forming the outline of the opening 120, this key may be rotatable upon the spindle 118as it is then clear of the teeth forming the outline of the opening 120 and this gear wheel 116 at that time engages the teeth 121 of a rack forming part of the sliding plate 122.

l It will thus be seen that afterthe key is inserted it can be turned to slide this plate 122 from one to the other of its limiting positions, and this plate is held in its limiting positions by a spring 123 fixed between the strut 72 and a projection upon the plate 70, which projection is accommodated for by a suitable opening 124 in the plate 122. This spring 123 has rounded extremities to engage notches 125 provided in this plate to accommodate the spring when the said plate is in either one or the other of its limiting positions. This sliding plate 122 has openings 126 restricted in size at their left hand extremities so that when this plate is moved l to the right (Fig. 3,) the restricted portion will inclose the stems 127 of the plungers 1 and 2, thus preventing the plungers 1 and 2 from moving upwardly on account of the collars 128 shown iny Fig. 1, which collars 128 are of such size that they can pass upwardly only if the enlarged portions of the openings 126 are presented for theirl move- `ment therethrough.

It will thus be seen that the key 115 by moving the plate 122 can lock both plungers 1 and 2 against movement. Astud 129 accommodated within a slot 130 limits the movement of the plate 122 from one limiting position to the other. The plate 122 also coperates with the plungers 3, 4 and 5, it

j being desirable as already stated that these plungers be locked in whatever position they are left by the owner of the car when he leaves the car and leaves the plungers 1 and 2 locked by sliding the plate 122 to the right and removes the key.

To accomplish this the plungers 3, 4 and 5 are each provided with collars 131, which collars coperate with suitable openings 132 and 133v provided within this plate 122. It

will be noted that when the plungers aredown, as shown in Fig. 2, they are entirely below the plate 122, and as shown in Fig.

' 7 when these plungers are in their elevated position the collars 131 are entirely above theplate 122. When the plate 122 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 where the plungers `1 and 2 are not locked, then the plungers 3 .1 and 2, and left his lamp circuits the way they should be, that then hislamp circuits cannot be tampered with by the operation of the plungers 3, 4 and 5.

In Figs. 14 and 15 I have illustrated an alternative form of dimmer resistance. The resistance 19 is made of a helix of wire 134 and serves the same purpose as does the resistance 19. The, resistance 19 is protected by two perforated circular plates 135 and 136. A piece of mica 137, the shape of the plates, is placed between each plate and the helix and a stud 138 passes through the plates and mica, the stud being upset at both ends thus holding the helix of wire securely between the plates. The plates 135 and 136 protect the resistance against being bent when adjustments are necessary on the key. The plate 135 has two extensions 135', the extensions having openings 1352.

To place this alternative form of resistance in operative relation with the dimmer switch, the screws 103 which hold the dimmer l switch springs 17, 18 in place pass through the openings 1352 and suitable nuts are threaded on the screws 103 to hold they ily apparent to those skilled in the art, and

it will also be clear that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from its spirit. l

Having thus described one form which my invention may take, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a pair of circuit controlling elements, interlocking mechanism interposed between said elements whereby but one element may be `operatively actuated at any given time, a third circuit controlling element, locking mechanism operable to lock both of said first aforesaid elements against operation in their inoperative position and to simultaneously lock said third element in whichever position it occupies at the time of operation of said locking means, a pair of switching springs, a contact device on one of said circuit controlling elements to control the circuit through said lswitching and a contact arm carried by said circuit controlling element and insulated from said first aforesaid contact device adapted to control the circuit through said second pair of switching springs. g

2. A device of thecharacter,described comprising a plunger, a pair .of switching springs, a contact device on said plunger to control the circuit through said swltching springs, a second pair of switching springs mounted to the side of said first aforesaid switching springs, and a contact making arm carried by said plunger and insulated from said first aforesaid contact adaptedl to control the circuit through said second pair of switching springs.

3. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of plungers, a pair of switching springs associated with each plunger, a contact on each plunger adapted to control the circuit through its associated switching springs, a second pair of switching springs for said plungers and mounted respectively to theside of the `first aforesaid corresponding pair of switching springs, and a contact arm carried by each plunger and insulated from the first aforesaid contact on said plunger to control the circuit through the second aforesaid pair of corresponding switching springs.

4. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of plungers, a pair of switching springs associated with each plunger, a contact on each plunger adapted to control the circuit through its associated switching springs, a second pair ofswitching springs for each plunger and mounted respectively to the side of the first aforesaid corresponding pair of switching springs, acontact arm carried by each plunger and insulated from the first aforesaid contact on said plunger to control the circuit throughY the second aforesaid pair of corresponding switching springs, and interlocking means whereby but one plunger may be actuated at the same time.

5. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of plungers, a pair of switching springs associated with. each plunger, a contact on each plunger adapted to control the circuit through its associated switching springs, a second pair of switching springs for each' plunger and mounted respectively to the side of the first aforesaid corresponding pair of switching springs, a contact arm carried by each plunger and insulated from the first aforesaid contact on said plunger to control the circuit of the second aforesaid pair of corresponding switching springs, interlocking means whereby but one plunger may beactuated at the same time, and means for simultaneously `locking both plungers in their inoperative position.

6. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of plungers, a pair of ger, a contact on each plunger adapted to 'control the circuit through its associated switching springs, a second pair of switching springs for each'plunger and mounted 70 respectively to the side of the first aforesaid corresponding pair of switching springs, a contact arm carried by each plunger and insulated from the first aforesaid contact on said plunger to control the circuit through the second aforesaid pair of corresponding switching springs, interlocking means whereby but one plunger may be actuated at the sametirne, a third plunger, and locking means for locking both of said first aforesaid plungers simultaneously in their inoperative position, and locking said second aforesaid plunger in whichever limiting p0- siti'on it may occupy. A

7. A switch key including a frame work having parallel supporting bars, reciprocatingly actuated plungers extending Athrough said bars, operating buttons secured to one -end of said plungers, a pair of contact springs, a movable contact actuated by one of said plungers for controlling a circuit through said contact springs, a second pair of contact springs, a second movable contact actuated by said plunger and adapted to control a circult through said second pair of switch contacts, a sliding plate secured to one of said bars adjacent the other end of said plungers, and cam stop surfaces for each of said plungers,l the cam and stop surfaces of said plungers coperating with said sliding plate to prevent more than one plunger being operatively reciprocated ata time.

8. A switch key comprising a mounting frame, a pair of plungers supported by said mounting frame, a stationary switching con- 105 tact, a movable contact carrie-d by one of said plungers for engaging said switching contact, a second switching contact, a second movable contact carried by said plunger and insulated from said aforesaid movable con- 110 tact adapted to engage said second switching contact, a groove cut in each of said plungers, and a sliding plate supported by said frame work and adapted to coperate with said plungers in such a manner that when one of 115 said plungers is movedto its operative posit1on said sliding plate is moved into thegroove .of the other of said plungers thus preventlng it from being moved to its operative position. i

9. A switch key including a frame work having parallel supporting bars, reciprocatingly actuated plungers extending through said bars, operating buttons secured to one of said plungers, a pair of contact springs, 125 a movable contact'actuated by one of said plungers for controlling a circuit through said contact springs, a second pair of contact springs, a second movable contact actuated by said plunger and adapted to control 130 a circuit through said second pair of switch contacts, a slldlng plate secured to one of said bars adjacent the other end of said.

plungers, cam and stop surfaces for each of said plu-ngers, the cam and stop surfaces of said plungers coperating with said sliding plate to prevent more than one plunger being operatively reciprocated at a time, and a sliding plate secured to another one of said bars for locking said plungers against actuation.

10. lA switch key comprising a mounting frame consisting of a pair of parallel bars, a pair of switching devices supported by said frame having normal and operative positions, a relatively stationary contactv supported by said mounting' frame, a movable -contact actuated by one of said switching devices and adapted to engage said-stationary contact, a second relatively stationary con'tact, a second movable contact actuated by said switching device and insulated from said other movable contact and adapted to engage the second of said movable contacts, a groove cut-in each of said devices, a sliding member supported by one of said bars and cooperating with the grooves in said devices .in such a manner that'when one of said devices is moved to its operative position the sliding member is moved into'the groove of said other device to prevent it being moved to its operative position.

11. A switch key comprising a mounting frame, a pair of plungers supported by said mounting frame, a stationary switching contact, a movable contact carrled-by one of.

said plungers for engaging said switching contact, a second switching contact, a second movable contact carried by said plunger and insulated from said aforesaid mfvable contact adapted to engage said second -switching contact, a groove cut in each of said plutngers, a sliding plate supported by sald framework and adapted to coperate with said plungers in such a manner that when one of said plungers is moved to its operative position said sliding plate is moved into the groove of the other of said plungers thus preventing it from being moved to its operative position, and a second sliding plate adapted to coperate with other grooves cut in said plungers to lock said plungers against actuation.

12. A switch key comprising a mounting frame consisting of a pair of parallel bars, a pair of switching devices supported by said frame having normal and operative positions, a relatively stationary contact supported by said mounting frame, a movable contact actuated by one of said switching devices and adapted to engage saidv station# ary contact, a second relatively stationary' contact, a second movable contact actuated by said switching device and insulated from said other movable contact and adapted to engage the second of said movable contacts, a groove cut in each of said devices, a sliding member supported by one of said bars and cooperating with the grooves in said devices in such a manner that when one of said devices is moved to its operative position the sliding member is moved into the groove of said other device to prevent it `being moved to its operative position, a second groove cut in each of said devices, and'-l a second sliding member supportedl by the other of said parallel barsv and cooperating with said last mentioned grooves to lock said switching devices against ei'ective `operation.

Signed by me at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, in the presence of two witnesses.

' wILLiAM KAIsLING.

i Witnesses:

B. OBRIEN, M. R. RooHroRD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

V Washington, D. C. 

